US President Joe Biden announced Thursday he has signed a $33 billion request for supplemental funding for Ukraine from Congress as Russia’s invasion takes on a new, critical phase.
The funding request is expected to support Ukraine through this fiscal year, or about five months, and includes $20.4 billion in military assistance.
Biden framed the massive request as critical for global stability.
He called on Congress to approve the funding “as quickly as possible.”
He reiterated that he would not send US troops to Ukraine and said that the US is “not attacking Russia,” but is instead, “helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression,” casting blame on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Russia is the aggressor, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Russia is the aggressor, and the world must and will hold Russia accountable,” he said.
Biden ticked through some of the provisions in the $33 billion request, including: